Archive for December 19th, 2009

Thanks Delilah for letting me guest blog. I thought I’d do something with a holiday theme.

I love listening to Christmas music, at home, on the way to work and at work, beginning from Thanksgiving until after the New Year. I checked out Amazon to see what the top selling CDs are. I was surprised the traditional ones I listened to as a kid weren’t in the top 10. Bing Crosby was #27, Burl Ives didn’t even make the top 100, Nat King Cole was #100. They’re really old songs but ones I hear every year on the radio. Personally, I enjoy Mannheim Steamroller and Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

Does anyone remember the house in Ohio that had their lights synchronized to “Wizards in Winter” by Trans-Siberian Orchestra? I think Coco-Cola used it in a commercial later too. Here’s the YouTube link if you want to check it out: Wizards in Winter

Some fun facts: The illuminated Christmas tree started in England during Queen Victoria’s reign 1832, and through immigration spread to North America and Australia. The first known electrically lit Christmas tree was in 1882 by Edward H. Johnson, an associate of Thomas Edison, and vice-president of Edison Electric Light Company (now Con-Edison in NY City). He hand strung 80 red, white and blue incandescent light bulbs the size of walnuts. (From Wikipedia, where else?)

Where did Christmas songs originate? In AD 129, a Roman Bishop said that a song called “Angel’s Hymn” should be sung at a Christmas service in Rome. The first specifically Christmas hymns that we know of appear in fourth century Rome. Latin hymns such as Veni Redemptor Gentium, written by Ambrose, Archbishop of Milan. St. Francis of Assisi in 1223 in Italy started his Nativity Plays with songs or “canticles” that told stories. The carols later spread to France, Germany, Spain and other European countries.

For classic songs, one of my favorites is: “Do You Hear What I Hear?” What are your favorites?

While working on an environmental project in the Arizona desert, research scientist Amy Weston finds herself caught in the war between two men. Dante Akanto lures her into the desert to explore the dark side of her passions, pleasuring her in ways she never thought possible with his bizarre sex games. And park ranger Jake Montag has a compelling mysticism and powerful sensuality that’s impossible to resist.

But the two men, demon and shapeshifter, are engaged in a supernatural fight between worlds. Amy and her high level of life force energy is the key. Dante’s world and his immortality depend on claiming her as his own. The choice Amy makes between the two men will affect both her world and her future.